Pittsburgh family photographer | Pittsburgh Garden Party

Hello Friends!

I am so excited to blog today because I recently used this amazing space and more people need to know about it !

Yes, really !

Are you looking for a unique setting for your clients that is just unlike any other ? Are you looking for a unique place to hold an event, wedding, proposal ?

“The Garden” might just be the pace you are looking for.

When I creating ideas for my clients up coming family session I came up with the concept Garden Party. I had so many ideas of what I wanted. However, I just couldn’t find the perfect space. Everything had been either used a lot or just wasn’t unique enough.

My friend Trisha from Vintage Alley Rentals had posted a photo on social media that had me (insert big hearts in my eyes) in love – I just had to know more details. She put in touch with Melissa Crawford the owner of the beautiful garden which is located in Blawnox Pa.

The photos below were taken in August.

All the pictures below are at “The Garden”

This set below I had added:

flowers

Spanish moss

lanterns from Vintage Alley Rentals

Rented the moss chair from my friend Sarah

This awesome little area (set off to the left side) was perfect for taking photos of the boys. Door rented from Vintage Alley Rentals

This might be my favorite spot! Awesome environmental framing.

Bringing in the moss chair added some height that I needed. Since it was covered in moss it also blending into the environment and flowed with my theme Garden party

My next favorite spot was with more environmental framing was tucked off towards the back left side.

I really tried to utilize all the little areas that could. I love wedging myself into little spots 🙂

Ending with this sleeping beauty in a bed of ivy.

Resources

The Garden: contact Melissa Crawford www.devotedtoyouevents.org

Vintage Door and Lanterns: Vintage Alley Rentals

Moss Chair: Sarah

Spanish Moss & Flowers : Local craft store

Children, Family, Maternity, Mini, Published, Styled

Creating magical memories: DIY boho teepee

branch stars logo twinkle twinkle

Creating magical memories: DIY boho teepee

Anyone that knows me or my style knows that deep inside I am a boho mermaid 😀 ha ha.

I love styling sessions. It’s kinda my thing…If you don’t know that already. I love the planning of it & sketching out ideas & I also love shooting from the hip with ideas. For this partial session I styled the little girl in a Joyfolie dress in cream & a joyfolie flower crown. The cream dress was made of chiffon so I knew I wanted to carry that look through out the session. It inspired me to create this teepee using chiffon fabric instead of your standard teepee cover ( which I do have from other sessions …just didn’t want to use for this session). I also knew that this session was going to be outside in grass & back lit so all these factors played into my fabric selection.

What do you need ?

Dail rods or birch branches <–That is what I used

Fabric <– I used Chiffon to match the dress (experiment try different fabrics ) I had about 2 1/2 years cut

Flowers: I used fake flowers that I had from a ton of other sessions. I save everything ( well until I have used it so many times it’s time to move on …than I sell it). I bought my flowers at a local craft store. For the most part I didn’t need anything to secure them . I did end up using a few zip ties .

Rope /hemp

Wire cutters

Than … from her it’s pretty simple. Use rope (to tie the top of the 3 branches) I fanned the branches out until I was happy with how big the space was ( this is to taste or desired look)

Than I took the fabric & tied it to the bottom of the outside 2 branches. At the top I actually just tucked it in to give it that flowy – blow in the wind look & feel.

As for the flowers … you can do this to taste too. You can add more or less or experiment with different items ( it doesn’t have to be flowers) . There was no real science here. I just played around until I liked the look ( cutting the stems as needed). I did have my friend Soozie on hand to tell me how it looked & help with adjustments. She also let me borrow her awesome vintage blanket that you see as the base.

And … that’s it ! You now have yourself a teepee as well as materials that you can use over & over again for other projects ;-D

ENJOY !

oxo

teepee topper DIY teepee

Children, Styled

How to create magical memories.

OK. Lets face it kids can be tough. Sometimes the adults can be just as tough or not harder than the little ones. Not everyone loves to “pose” in front of the camera-or in front of strangers.

1. Don’t be a stranger. Get to know your family. Ask questions find out what makes them who they are. Make a questionnaire & use it. Make sure to really get to know them.

2. Blend their clothing colors to match their home. Wait- you mean don’t just tell them to wear a basic color that you tell everyone to wear? That is right. Find out what colors are in their rooms that they plan on hanging these memories. After all you do want these hanging up in their home right ? Trust me- they will second guess hanging a large canvas if they decided to wear all blue’s because it makes the kids eyes stand out. Than come to find out her home is beige & creams with a hints of blush and blue doesn’t match on the giant blank wall that needed a gallery on it.

3. Help them. The only way they are going to feel good & look good is if you guide them. Don’t be afraid of this. Practice with friends first. Practice makes perfect after all – right ?

I personally do stylized|concept sessions. So I make pinterest boards for all my sessions. I create a theme based off the family. Basically, every session has a purpose and a reason I chose that prop or that color or that location. Pinterest is a great way for me to lay it all out & see what looks the best together from clothes, colors to props. I start with a sketch pad & than take it digital.

I always suggest to the mum to hire a makeup artist ( which I can provide for an additional fee). Show her places she can buy/rent clothes for herself or the kids. Why spend all that extra money on an outfit you might not wear again.

Come back often for more tips & ideas!